Clown Loach Murder

[trailwise@sbcglobal.net]

I have 5 clown loaches in a 150 gallon tank. Lots of hiding places, no previous problems. One of the loaches has stayed about the same size as when I bought them about 3 months ago. All except the one that's around 1.5 inches have frown to about 5-6 inches long. Today I saw the 2 biggest rubbing in the sand I then realized they were roughing up the little loach! I went over and scared them off and the little loach tryed to swim to top. I ended up neting him and placing him in some tank water by himself. He died a couple of hours later. Is this normal behavior? I feel so sorry for the little loach! I had thoght about moving him to another tank but never could catch him in the 150 gallon.
Thanks for any information!
Cordell
Fort Worth, Texas

[connor]

Clowns are not known for preying on their own kind aside from some normal fighting to establish a pecking order. Except for some scratches they usually don't get hurt by this.

So what you described is at least very weird behavior. What exactly where they doing to the little clown?

-Connor

[trailwise@sbcglobal.net]

The two of them looked like they were rolling on top of him and maybe biting him. He looked like he had one cut on him. I have been looking for my other 2 loaches and can only find one other. It is hidden in the back and looks bloated. I've not been able to locate the other of the 4 that remain. The two others are out and about the tank and eating as usual. I tested my my water, ph between 7.6 and 7.8, no amonia, no nitrites and natrates in the 20's. The water temp is a constant 78 degrees. Other fish in the tank are several different types of cory cats, 3 blood red parrots, 1 blue moori, 1 male and 2 female yellow labs, 4 firemouths, 2 bushy nose plecos and one common pleco. None are full grown. I feed a variaty of flakes, wafers, bottom dweller pellets and frozen brine shrimp and blood worms. I also throw in small snails from my smaller tank. I feed twice a day and the fish clean up all I feed within 5-10 minutes. The tank is 150 gallons. Everyone except the bloated clown loach act and look fine. Well and the one clown that I can't seem to find probably isn't doing to well.
Any ideas on what to do for the bloated clown loach or what could be causing?
Thanks so much
Cordell

[Emma Turner]

I'd say that one/some of your other tank occupants severely injured the little loach and the larger ones were investigating/scavenging, thinking it was dead. It is highly unlikely that they themselves were the perpetrators. I'd be looking at those blood parrots or the Malawi cichlids myself....they really shouldn't be housed in the same tank as clown loaches.

Emma